He was born Lucien Ginzburg in Paris, France, the son of Jewish Russian parents who fled to France after the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. His childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, during which he and his family, as Jews, were forced to wear the yellow star and eventually flee from Paris. He had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, with English singer and actress Jane Birkin; and a son, Lulu, with his last partner, Bambou (Caroline Von Paulus, who is related to Friedrich Paulus). Before he was 30 years old, Lucien Ginsburg was a disillusioned painter but earned his living as a piano player in bars. Daughter Charlotte would later become an actress and singer.
His early songs were influenced by Boris Vian and were largely in the vein of "old-fashioned" chanson. Very early, however, Gainsbourg began to move beyond this and experiment with a succession of different musical styles: jazz early on, English pop in the 60's, reggae in the 70's, even hip-hop in the 80's.
Success began to arrive when, in 1965, his song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" was the Luxembourg entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Performed by French teen singer France Gall, it won the grand prize. (The song was covered in English as "A Lonely Singing Doll" by British teen idol Twinkle.) He arranged other Gall songs and LPs that were characteristic of the late 1960s psychedelic styles, among them Gall's '1968' album. Another of Serge's songs "Boum Bada Boum" was entered in by Monaco in the 1967 contest, sung by Minouche Barelli; It came 5th.
In 1969, he released what would become his most famous song in the English-speaking world, "Je t'aime... moi non plus", which featured simulated sounds of female orgasm. The song appeared that year on an LP, "Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg". Originally recorded with Brigitte Bardot, it was released with future girlfriend Birkin when Bardot backed out. While Gainsbourg declared it the "ultimate love song," it was considered too "hot"; the song was censored in various countries, and in France, even the toned-down version was suppressed. Even the Vatican made a public statement citing the song as offensive. Its notoriety led it to reaching no. 1 in the UK singles chart. A long-standing rumor maintains that Gainsbourg and Birkin were actually having sex during the recording session (asked about it in an interview, Gainsbourg answered that if this was true, the song would have lasted longer than 4 minutes).
The seventies
His most influential work came near the start of the seventies with Histoire de Melody Nelson, released in 1971. This concept album, produced and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier, tells the story of a Lolita-esque affair, with Gainsbourg as the narrator and Jane Birkin as the eponymous English heroine. It features prominent string arrangements and even a massed choir at its tragic climax. At the time, sales were poor, but the album has proven influential with artists such as Air, David Holmes and Beck.
In 1975, he released the album Rock Around the Bunker, a rock album written entirely on the subject of the Nazis. Gainsbourg used black humour, as he and his family suffered during World War II. While a child in Paris, Gainsbourg himself had worn the Yellow badge as the mark of a Jew.
The next year saw the release of another major work, L'Homme à la Tête de Chou (Cabbage-Head Man), featuring the new character Marilou and sumptuous orchestral themes.
In Jamaica in 1978 he recorded "Aux Armes et cetera," a reggae version of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise", with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar and Rita Marley. This song earned him death threats from right-wing veterans of the Algerian War of Independence who were opposed to certain lyrics. Shortly afterwards, Gainsbourg bought the original manuscript of La Marseillaise. He was able to reply to his critics that his version was, in fact, closer to the original as the manuscript clearly shows the words "Aux armes et cætera..." for the chorus.
The next year saw him in the new look of Gainsbarre, officially introduced in the song "Ecce Homo."
Final years
In the 1980's, approaching the end of his life, Gainsbourg became a regular figure on French TV. His appearances seemed devoted to his controversial sense of humour and provocation. He would frequently show up drunk and unshaven on stage. Perhaps his most famous incident came when, on Michel Drucker's live Saturday evening show with the American singer Whitney Houston, he exclaimed, "I want to fuck her."
During this period he released Love On The Beat and his last studio album, You're Under Arrest, (which saw him adapt his style to the hip-hop genre), as well as two live recordings. His third and last Eurovision Song Contest entry came in 1990 with the French entry "White and Black Blues", sung by Joëlle Ursull. It came second in a tie with Ireland. His songs became increasingly eccentric in this period, ranging from the anti-drug "Les Enfants de la Chance" to the duet with his daughter Charlotte called "Lemon Incest (Un zeste de citron)." The title of the latter demonstrates Gainsbourg's love of puns (another example is "Bowie, Beau oui comme Bowie").
Discography :
1958 : Du Chant À La Une !
1959 : Serge Gainsbourg N°2
1961 : L'étonnant Serge Gainsbourg
1962 : Serge Gainsbourg N° 4
1963 : Gainsbourg Confidentiel
1964 : Gainsbourg Percussions
1968 : Initials B.B.
1968 : Bonnie And Clyde ( with Brigitte Bardot )
1969 : Jane Birkin-Serge Gainsbourg
1971 : Histoire de Melody Nelson ( with Jane Birkin )
1973 : Vu de l'extérieur
1975 : Rock around the bunker
1976 : L'Homme à tête de chou
1979 : Aux armes et cætera
1981 : Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles
1984 : Love on the Beat
1987 : You're Under Arrest
Orang Outang
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
Je l'adore, jamais je ne dors sans
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
Il fait les yeux blancs
Mais depuis longtemps
J'aime ce gros dégoûtant
J'aime ma poupée orang-outang
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
Je connais pourtant
Des garçons charmants
Qui m'aiment vraiment
Et qui roulent en Ford Mustang
Mais moi j'aime mon orang-outang
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
Il fait les yeux blancs
Il n'a plus de dents
Mais depuis longtemps
J'aime ce gros dégoûtant
J'aime ma poupée orang-outang
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
J'aime ma poupée orang-outang
Orang-outang
Orang-outang
In the song "Orang Outang" by Serge Gainsbourg, the lyrics depict a peculiar and unconventional love story between the singer and his orangutan doll. The repeated refrains of "Orang-outang" emphasize the singer's deep adoration for this unusual companion. The singer declares his affection by stating that he loves his orangutan doll and never sleeps without it, suggesting a sense of comfort and attachment to this inanimate object.
The description of the orangutan doll as having white eyes and no teeth portrays a somewhat grotesque and unattractive appearance. Despite its unappealing physical features, the singer expresses a lasting love for this "big disgusting" figurine. This juxtaposition of repulsion and affection adds layers of complexity to the singer's attachment to the orangutan doll, hinting at deeper emotional and psychological undertones.
The lyrics also contrast the singer's affection for his orangutan doll with the attention and affection he receives from other charming boys who drive Ford Mustangs. Despite the availability of conventional romantic partners, the singer remains devoted to his peculiar choice of companionship, highlighting the singularity and depth of his connection to the orangutan doll amidst societal expectations and norms.
Overall, "Orang Outang" delves into themes of unconventional love, attachment, and individuality. Through the portrayal of an unorthodox love story between the singer and his orangutan doll, Serge Gainsbourg creates a thought-provoking narrative that challenges traditional notions of romance and relationships, inviting listeners to consider the complexities and depths of human connection in all its forms.
Line by Line Meaning
J'aime ma poupée orang-outang
I love my orangutan doll
Orang-outang
Orangutan
Je l'adore, jamais je ne dors sans
I adore it, I never sleep without it
Il fait les yeux blancs
It rolls its eyes back
Il n'a plus de dents
It no longer has teeth
Mais depuis longtemps
But for a long time now
J'aime ce gros dégoûtant
I love this big disgusting thing
Je connais pourtant
However, I know
Des garçons charmants
Some charming boys
Qui m'aiment vraiment
Who truly love me
Et qui roulent en Ford Mustang
And who drive Ford Mustangs
Mais moi j'aime mon orang-outang
But I love my orangutan
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bridgelittleleg
Cette chanson fait référence à la peluche en forme de singe, qui fut la confidente de Jane Birkin depuis son enfance jusqu'à la mort de Gainsbourg. C'est ce qu'elle révèle dans son autobiographie, "Munkey Diaries" paru en 2018.
@julietholdren9006
shes so right <33
@MyGodzilla99
Rest in peace Jane
@suziwalls5038
My mum used to play me this song as a child, and I also thought that it was super creepy.
@shioriy5703
She is the best.
@pedodebruja
this is the best song ever.
@ArielTV53
i love this song <3
@moriremos
Joder!!! Qué hermosa canción..
@Michelis28
@celslui Within the context of the song, it's the name of her doll/stuffed animal. The song is basically saying how no man can take the place of her doll.
@TheArnaud720
peut etre serge meme si pour moi serge est tres beau